Finding Ancestors using the Internet by Jerry Merritt

Objectives Pass on a few simple tips and tricks to maximize your chances of finding what you are looking for. Show search techniques useful in getting the most out of commonly used genealogy research sites. Offer some actual examples of how volunteers in the WFGL solved longstanding family history problems.

First – a few simple Tips & Tricks While we normally think of researching family history using genealogy sites…

Don’t forget Google

Make the Advanced Page your Homepage

Use First and Last & Last and First There are many databases totally accessible via Google. Search for both First and Last & Last and First: e. g. Isaiah Huston & Huston Isaiah. Last-First is even more powerful because if Isaiah was listed as Isaiah R. Huston the First-Last search would miss him.

Use all Spellings, Abbreviations and Initials Robert, Rob, Rob’t, Robbert, R William, Wm. , Will, Billy, Billie, W, B, Willie John, Jno. , Jonny, Jonnie, Johnnie, J Thomas, Thos. , Tommy Tomas, T

Search an Entire Web Site in one Fell Swoop

Paste the URL you want to search into

So… What about some Genealogy Sites to get us started?

Some Great Places to Begin Heritage Quest Free access with your library card

Begin by signing in at your Public Library

Then make this a Favorite 1234 5678 90

Census Search

Search Box Close-up

Search by First Name

Finding Wm. Mason

No-name Search for Stefen Awlchenne

Search Alphabetical Surnames for a Close Match

All-Census Search

Using the Sort Menu

Sorting the List

HQ Limitations No “smart” name search If you want Smith and the census has Smyth… Only head of household listed except in 1880 No 1830, 1840 or 1850 census search But, you can still Browse those censuses

So, now you have your family lineage all wired together except for….

Some More Great Places to Begin Heritage Quest Family Search

BTW The Pilot site and Beta site have the 1850 -1920 censuses with all-name indexes. Just scroll down to United States on the list of offerings where we looked up the Florida Death Certificate.

Some More Great Places to Begin Heritage Quest Family Search Rootsweb’s World. Connect

World. Connect Search

So now you’ve found that missing ancestor And you’d like to get to know them a little better.

Even More Great Places to Begin Heritage Quest Family Search Rootsweb’s World. Connect Ancestry

Tracing oral traditions passed down for 150 years A story from slave days Richard Winston’s mother was named Adeline was a 16 year old slave when she had Richard’s father was a slave owner Richard was very light-complected – almost white Richard was born in Shelby County, TN about 1860

1860 Slave Schedule of Shelby County, TN

Zooming in on B. Y. Winston

Researching Benj. Winston Going back to World. Connect we look for Winstons

Follow Up Contact with Mc. Mahon led to: A pedigree back to the 1500 s A photo of Benjamin A photo of his son – the father of Richard An ongoing research effort between the families A chance for more detailed research in Memphis e. g. Slave records to find Adeline’s mother, marriage records for Adeline, Freedman’s documents, etc.

Follow Up An ongoing DNA study of the Winston family provides a chance to prove this link conclusively Finding has made Marilyn a legend at her family reunion And then from the 1850 slave schedule we have this:

BLM Bureau of Land Management. Of course, you can use it to find land records, but… We are going to use it to find other families allied to Bowmans.

Look for Bowman

Picking up Township, Range and Section

Going to Advanced Search

Searching entire Sections

Leave Empty

Everyone in Section 28

DAWSON BOWMAN

Expand to surrounding sections

Expanding the search to all states Go to the bottom of the dropdown menu on the state selection box. Select “–---- Any State -----”

Summary ü Search using all potential variations in a name. ü Look for Advanced options in web sites. ü Use Filtering options to compensate for searches that aren’t producing using a name only. ü Don’t depend on one site, like Ancestry, for all data. ü Visit as many different sites as possible. ü Contact the people who have posted applicable info. ü Attend WFGS to learn of new sites as they come on line. ü Never give up.

A Final Example from The Genealogy Library First Name – Leila Last Name – Perhaps Beale Status – thought to have been previously married Former Married or Maiden Name – Unknown Census Data – only found in one census Present Husband - Edward Aymard Other Data – None Years Spent Searching – Many, many.